The Joint Action Committee of Teachers’ Organisations (JACTO), which comprises membership of 21 teachers’ organisations of Telangana, raised its voice against the government’s decision to pay honorarium in lieu of earned leave for the teachers’ services availed for implementation of mid-day meals scheme during summer vacation of 2016.
In a representation submitted to the Commissioner and Director of School Education on Tuesday, the JACTO cited Section 82(B) of Fundamental Rules which prescribe proportionate earned leaves for an employee or teacher who is deprived of his or her summer vacation.
The government orders go against this, the representation mentioned, and refused the honorarium.
According to the formula for payment of honorarium derived by the government, each teacher who had worked for mid day meals scheme during the summer months would be paid ₹18.75 per day if he/she is a secondary grade teacher, and ₹27 per day if he/she is school assistant, explained B.Bhujanga Rao, president of the State Teachers Union, Telangana State.
Mid-day meals scheme was continued in 25,969 government schools in summer of 2016 as per Supreme Court directions, in view of the severe drought conditions prevailing then. A teacher for every school had to be present for the scheme for 53 days during summer vacation, which entitled him/her for 24 earned leaves.
